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150. JIM HENSON: A puppeteer’s advice

Jim Henson (1936-1990) was a puppeteer, storyteller, director, writer, artist, experimental film-maker, savvy businessman and all-around creative visionary responsible for many of my generation’s fondest pop-culture memories. Sesame Street, The Muppet Show, Fraggle Rock, Muppet Babies, The Dark Crystal and Labyrinth (not to mention all the television shows and films Henson’s company provided the special effects for) … it’s hard to imagine growing up without the influence of this great man.

I’ve recently journeyed down the Henson rabbit hole again after reading the latest biography by Brian Jay Jones. It’s been nice to read the book at night then get on my iPad and watch Muppets clips on YouTube. Ernie and Bert have been my favourite. Henson (Ernie) and Frank Oz (Bert) were one of the greatest comedy duos ever. The Jim Henson Company has a wonderful YouTube channel with hundreds of videos.

Henson realised he was in control of his life at an early age. There was only one industry Henson wanted a career in and that was television. Puppeteering was just a means to an end for Henson, a way to get his foot in the television door. It was only after a trip to Europe where Henson discovered the rich history of puppeteering did he recognise the potential of the artform and decide to dedicate his life to it.

Reading Henson’s biography was incredibly motivating for me. Henson used an art form that was seen as crude, childish and primitive to create television and films that have brought joy to millions. At the height of its popularity, The Muppet Show was the most-watched program in the world. Henson (along with his fellow puppeteers) also created characters beloved by generations.

It made me want to revisit some of the characters I have introduced in Zen Pencils (not that I’m comparing mine with Kermit and Co.) and illustrate how they have changed my life. I thought combining Henson’s wonderful quote with my own story and characters was the perfect way to celebrate my 150th comic. So this is the Zen Pencils origin comic. I filled countless notepads with scribble at my old job, always dreaming that one day that those scribbles could somehow get me out of my situation. I guess I did kind of feel like the victim. I had pretty much drifted through life and did what I was told through school and university to get to that situation, never really taking control for myself. Once I finally did take control, everything changed.

I never considered reaching 150 Zen Pencils comics when I was scribbling at work nearly three years ago. It’s amazing what you can accomplish when you decide to take control of your life.

Thanks for helping me reach this milestone, I couldn’t have done it without your support. I hope you’ll stick around for the next 150!

Aww, I love your origin story – you’re livin’ the dream, man! It really is encouraging when you see others taking control of their lives. Even though I don’t know what I want to do with my life, I’ve had enough of working an un-fulfilling minimum wage job, and I’m off to travel the world

I have to be honest. Up until January of this year, I was firmly in the “must go to school and get a decent skill for a better paying job than what I’m now qualified for” mindset. However, since I’d discovered this site and the quotes (most particularly those advocating taking control of one’s life and making the leap into one’s dreams), I’d been chafing at the restriction of living a life which had no draw for me and which, on some many levels, *frightened* me.

In January, I was finishing chemo treatments, and one day, while housebound after my third or fourth cycle, it hit me. I could LIVE my dream. Really live it.

I’ve since given up on the school-for-a-better-job dream. I’ve been drifting too long, and since I can’t have my Navy dream come true, it’s up to me to now make sure my writing/publishing dream comes true. Since January, I’ve been working on my writing, making plans for how I’ll begin publishing (I’m going to do the Indie thing), and started preparations for making my writing a career.

I think, if you hadn’t done this, I’d still be forcing myself into the school-for-a-better-job mold instead of pursuing my dream job.

I love your work! I feel that, oftentimes, these strips point out following passions in arts and expression of self, and I love that.
Coming from a different perspective, however, your work also inspires me to continue dedicating time and effort into my chosen field of neuroscience while also balancing it with my other love of adventuring and rock climbing.
Maybe sometimes people see sciences, law, and politics as creativity-crushing, dream snatchers. But, for what it’s worth, your works have inspired me to pursue sciences and adventuring because I see both as an expression of who I am, what I love, and the difference I feel I can make in the world!
Carry on!

I could not agree with you more. I love the arts and the way it inspires people, but I too am a science field oriented person. Zen pencils has inspired me to follow my dreams of changing the science field and not settling for a corporate job. I love the arts and the sciences I think they both can go well together.

Yes, completely agree! I am going through a similar awakening process myself. And it’s hard, damn! But I know I gotta do it. Because there’s more joy and fun in being creative and do what I’m good at and what I love. Thanks for encouragement Gav!

I am grateful that you decided to take control over your life. What we don’t realize is that our lives are not only our own, but that they also affect everyone we come into contact with in some way. Yours has influenced mine in a very positive way, and I thank you for that.

I’m sorry, but I do not considerar “sticking around” as a possibility. For me, it is an honor to be invited to share the quotes and your wonderful artwork. I have lived my entreprenurial dreams several times without much success and, at 54, feel ready to try again. And guess whose comics I eagerly await every week as source of inspiration? Thanks for what you do for all of us!

I love your notepads of drawings – exactly what mine looked like growing up. Full of Simpsons, TMNT, X-Men, Batman, etc. Reminds me of all the notebooks and folders at my parents’ house full of my drawings.
Thanks Gav, you’re an inspiration!

Happy 150th! Another great quote and great comic. I really admire you for pursuing your dreams. I’m still not quite sure what I want to be when I “grow up.” I don’t exactly love my job, but for the last few years it has allowed me to work from home which I do love. Being free of the commuting grind has allowed me to pursue some other activities that I enjoy.

You asked for favorite Muppet quotes and clips. One of my favorites, and it fits so well here, is from the end of the first Muppet movie. As they begin to sing the final song, Kermit sings “Life’s like a movie, write your own ending. Keep believing, keep pretending.” That’s the key isn’t it?

I am so glad you keep this theme running strong and regular in your comics Gav, it just drills it into my head to take control of my life and keep going for my dream life and true passion.

However I think with this comic and quote, we don’t necessarily know exactly what we want to do as a child, although so do, so it takes everyone to a different point in their life when they know what their true passion is.

The key is, that as soon as that thought has popped into their head, they make the decision and take action from then on, that is the turning point, just when you know, just begin making waves towards it!

Thanks for the kind words everyone. It’s so cool to hear that some of you have decided to take action and make a change in your life. I’m not saying my way is the only way, but it worked for me and I hope that you’ll get the same satisfaction and fulfilment that I have found after you take control! – Your pal Gav

I can’t stopping smiling and feeling encouraged reading the comic,and what a wonderful way to end the comic. All those Zen character’s together,just so perfect. I had to make the last scene my facebook profile cover pictures,check it out https://www.facebook.com/AkinwaleSola

In every creative class, or after-hours club, or comments section, there’s the guy who makes a paraih of himself because he has no sympathy for people who hear ‘you suck’ whenever someone says ‘your work sucks,’ because he tells himself he sucks everyday, so that must be the price everyone should pay because art is such a privileged to make that everyone SHOULD suffer for it.

I’m that guy. If this quote was put on a wall next to a picture of Ayn Rand a lot of artists would assume it was her’s and respond that successful artists need inspiration, perspiration AND luck.

I still work a day job so that my wife can pursue a career that will support me trying to be a writer.

Nobody would mistake that quote for Ayn Rand because it lacks sufficient venom at all the mean people keeping the special genius down. If anything the quote from Henson paints an opposing scene: stop feeling that other people are keeping you from doing what you think you would be better off doing. Don’t blame them, start working towards it yourself.

I don’t think you can knock the words knowing their source – Henson was nothing if not dedicated to hard work, sacrifice, and self-criticism. (In fact, to the point of fault – he sadly, and literally, worked himself to death.)

I believe what the characters in the comic represent however are not a timid artist offended that someone says their work sucks. The boss berating the cartoonist is hardly critiquing work – he doesn’t even see the work, he just sees someone doing something he doesn’t think they should be doing in the first place. Ultimately the message is to stop allowing others to tell you want to do, while realizing it is your responsibility to stand up and change things yourself. Nothing there contradicts the other harsh realities attached to trying to make it in your chosen career.

Your work is amazing. It always fills me with joy when I see you post a new comic and very, very often, i tear up with emotion while reading them. You have a way to give incredible life to already powerful quotes – you transcend them! Thank you for doing this and I am very happy for you that you are doing something you love after struggling through boring jobs.

Started the day with this one. The short story you have penned down and drew down is the exact story of mine and I am sure many around. Such an inspirational work – dear. You are awakened one to create such great piece of art and inspiration for many.
In this insecure world of ours, it is such a relief to see some motivational and coming straight from heart work.

Hey Gavin! or Zen, what you preffer :).
Waves from Brazil, hey, this comic of yours made me realize, by these times, as i am hatching as a writer, that our characters that gives life for us, in return of we giving it to them.
It is a solely thank you, and, as loyalty,
Let’s stick with our fates, whatever our fate is.

Ok Gavin, this is it. I’ve been voyeuring your site for over a year. I admire very much your cartoons and the citations you employ. Although deeply enjoying it, I never thought I’d have something interesting to say. But your 150th quote on Jim Henson gave me the information that he did so many things that I enjoyed in my childhood. Specially “The Dark Crystal”, a movie that some years ago I tried to remember, but I juts couldn’t. So thank you for remembering it to me, and thank you for your fantastic work here at Zen Pencil!!! I’ll be around when you get at your 300th quote. Cheers!! = )

Gavin, thanks so much for creating another fantastic strip. I remember shedding a tear when I heard that Jim Henson had died. He is one of the true magicians: he created beautiful illusions in order to show us the truths in the world. You have a wonderful ability to take just the right words from some amazing magicians and breath new life into those stories. Fantastic.

Gav, First congrats on 150 and please keep going for you are a true inspiration. Coming to such a realization in your work of not being a victim, this poignant in life, for all of us; even during moments of difficulty and challenges. The fact remains do we live in the past or have the resilience to continue forward, YOU DO, YOU DID and you inspire people. Thank you for stating what many of us need to hear. Your works and comics give me impetus to keep moving through a Move drama from NM back home to CO working/writing/educating people on TBI. THANK YOU THANK YOU

You probably should look into doing like, your own comic series at this point? With your own words? Zenpencils is definitely reaching a Tom Dobson level of circlejerk, especially with this strip in particular, so why don’t you branch out your proverbial wings and do something different?

You amaze me time and time again! This quote is so beautiful and perfect for me right now. I have finally taken control of my own life and now I’m helping others do the same. I’m working more than I ever have before, but I love every single minute of it! Thank you for all that you do and we can’t wait for the next 150+!

Thank you for the inspiration!!! I was at the point where I had forgotten that I am in control of my life and was kind of letting things happen to me…and reading your comic was like a (very much needed) knock on the head. So I’m sitting here, grinning like an idiot, and feeling happier and empowered. Kudos Gav, Love your work!

Hey Gav,
Whenever I open ZenPencils.com it still shows the previous comic on the homepage. I have to go into the archives and then click ‘Last’ to see this comic.
Do you think its an issue with my computer or is there something buggy on the site?

I saw this strip a couple of months ago and it really changed and reinforced something in me. I gave my notice last week to dedicate myself to what I love which is illustration and animation. I feel alive and sort of out of a dream where my whole existence was numb. Thank you.

You are now ready to leave your house and purchase your new pet! The careful study and precaution which you take before hand will determine the outcome of your pet store experience and the condition of your glider.

Here are some design ideas for pet store logos. Hopefully this will help you get some ideas and inspiration to make it easier for you to let your designer know exactly what kind of pet business logo you want.

What is the health of the pets at the store? Are the coats shiny? Are the eyes vibrant? Are the animals alert? Are the cages clean? Are the food and water dishes clean? Do the pets have runny eyes or runny noses?

Thank you for the inspiration!!! I was at the point where I had forgotten that I am in control of my life and was kind of letting things happen to me…and reading your comic was like a (very much needed) knock on the head. So I’m sitting here, grinning like an idiot, and feeling happier and empowered. Kudos Gav, Love your work!

An exclusive occasion is a one-time affair focused on a particular goal for example a groundbreaking, huge starting or any other substantial celebration during the lifetime of a catalogue. Special events can also be made for other specific reasons for example a work sensible; honours meal or logo design contest.

These one time special events are different from “courses” presented with a carrying on time frame say for example a lecture sequence, summer time studying team or scenario 60 minutes.